Multispeed turntable for phonographs



April 13, 1954 Filed May 16, 1950 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS 6. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Barre/7A. Proctor and 54/7017 A. Procfor Jr."

A T TORNE'YJ April 13, 1954 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL 2,674,895

MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Bar/0n A. Procfor and Bar/0r? A. Pracfor J/r April 13, 1954 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL 2,574,895

MULTI SPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TOR.

fiarfon A Procfor and Barton A. Pros/0r Jr? A T TOR/V5 Y5 April 13, 1954 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL 2,674,895

MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. .60/70/7 A Pracfor and Barre/7 A. Procror J/r ATTORNEY April 13, 1954 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL 2,674,895

MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 16, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

Bnrfon A. Procror and Barton A. Proc for Jr."

A T TORNEYS April 1954 B. A. PROCTOR ETAL 2,674,895

MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed May 16, 1950 6 heets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR. Barron A Pracfor and Bdrm/1A. Praqfor Jr.

ATTORNE Y Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTISPEED TURNTABLE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Plandome, N. Y.

Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,344

3 Claims. (01. 74-194) This invention relates to drive mechanism including a constant speed motor for phonographs and more particularly to a drive mechanism in which the speed of the phonograph turntable may be varied over the wide range of speed re quirements met in modern p-honograp hic reproduction.

An object of the invention is to prevent motor or other vibrations such as building vibrations from being transferred to the turntable upon which the record is supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable phonograph turntable drive mechanism having a single speed control lever adapted to provide speed adjustments or variations either while the phonograph turntable is at rest 0 while it is turning.

Another object is to provide a transmission system from a constant speed motor to the turntable which is quick starting and which provides instantaneous response to the motor actuator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a turntable on which the standard 33, 45 and '78 R. P. M. phonograph records now commercially available may be reproduced.

Another object of this unit is to provide a phonograph turntable in which the turntable speed may be varied while the record is being played, thereby creating the desired distortions in the records reproduction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a speed control indicator and lock in which the desired speed changes may be readily and accurately accomplished.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the turntable drive may be rendered effective or ineffective with the starting and stopping of the motor.

This invention has a wide range of uses in the recording field as there exists a demand for a turntable which may be used for all three speeds of phonograph reproduction. For example, in broadcast studio work electrical transcriptions of fifteen minute or half hour programs are usually recorded on records which utilize the slow or 33 'R. P. M. speed. However, there may be popular tunes and other types of entertainment that are found on the 45 or '78 R. P. M. phonograph discs. Any of the phonographic discs mentioned above may be placed on the turntable of this invention, the position of the speed control lever adjusted to the speed corresponding to the type of record and the entire driving unit actuated for reproduction purposes.

2 Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the phonograph unit; Figure 2 is a top view taken along lines 2.2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 1, some of the parts being broken away to expose others;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through one of the vibration damping mounts whereby the motor supporting frame is supported by the platform;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Figure 6 is a vertical section showing the vibration damping connection between the speed varying lever and a link;

Figure 7 is a front elevation, similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in a different position and certain elements removed;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing the friction disc supporting means;

Figure 9 is a left side elevation of Fig. 3, some of the parts being broken away;

Figure 10 is a right side elevation of Fig. 3;

Figure 11 is a. top view of the motor mount; and

Figure 12 is a top view partly in section of the transmission mechanism, its support and the control mechanism therefor.

In Figure 1 the phonograph supporting platform member I is shown with the various control features, which will be discussed later, and a pickup arm A, described in my copending application, Serial No. 84,220, filed March 29, 1949, for Phonographs. This platform member is supported at its outer edges by a cabinet structure 2 shown in Fig. 3 suitably supported on the floor of a building. The platform member I has extending from its lower side, depending vertical members 4, 5, 6 and 1 of the supporting frame members i! and I8 bolted to the underside of the platform member I. The turntable 9 is supported by these supports in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

The turntable 9 is demountably supported on a turntable shaft H], which shaft extends through the platform member I and tubular turntable bearing bracket l l, which is fastened to the platform. member I by means of screws I2. The

- lower end of the shaft I 0 is inwardly recessed 3 i5 produce a frictionless support for the turntable 9.

The screw 5, passes through horizontal support beam l6 which is fastened on either end to support frame members l1 and I8. The shaft ill may be adjusted for turntable clearancetpurposes to the desired height by rotation of screw l5 which is then looked in place by tightening a loci: nut l9 against the beam f6. Between'the lowermost portion of turntable shaft ft and the turntable bearing bracket H, a thin flexible friction drive disc 28 is floatingly attached to the shaft I B. The manner in whichthe-friction drive disc is attached to the shaft leis best shown in Fig. 8.

The drive disc 20 is frictionally secured between two soft rubber washer-like rings or discs 2! and 22 through which the shaft It extends. The drive disc 20 and the rubber rings '2'! and 22 are provided with holes through which extend clamping screws 23. These screws compressively hold a lower clamp plate 25 tothe upper clamp brackets 26 and 26a, the latter-comprising two semi-circular discs with collar and flange .portions. The flange portions in turn are fastened about shaft It to each other by-screwsfl and 28 which when tightened hold the entire assembly on the turntable shaft it. Adisc guard 20a (Figs. 2, 3 and 9) supportedbetween frame'memhers ii and I8 surrounds part of the disc 20pmtecting the disc from any damage which-would tend to bend it, producing a wobble on rotation. Since the friction drive disc 20 is not positively fastened to turntable shaft l9 and is cushioned between the rubber rings 2! and 22, any vibration of the turntable motor will not be transmitted to the turntable. The frictiondrive disc 29 forms part of the driving mechanism, as will hereinafter be apparent-by transmitting the rotation of the rollers 29 and 30 as'shown inFig. 3 to the turntable shaft Ill. The lower? drive'roller 3% is connected to the constant speed motor 3!, while upper drive roller 29 is an idler. As seen'in Fig. 1, an indicatorxarm am is fastened to the shaft 32 and is adapted to moveoverthe'scale 33. As is shown in the drawing, the scale'33 has been graduated from 33 through '78. this representing the slowest and the fastest commercially used revolutions per minute in phonographicwork. By moving the indicator arm 3 la thespee'dofithe turntable is varied in a manner as will now be explained. The variation of rotational velocity is achieved by moving the entire motor'assembly either towards or away from the-shaft if], so that the idler roller 29'and'drive roller 39, when cammed into engagement with disc 20in amanner hereinafter explained, use different effective radii on the disc 29 in transmitting their rotational force to the turntable 9.

Two slide rods 34 and 35 (Figs. 2, 3, 9 and 10) the extremities of which are fastened in slide rod supports or bars 31 and 38 ina .wellkn'own manner, areused'to support the motorcarriage 39. Standard Lord-mounts 8 (FigspB, 4 and 10) are provided as the means for fasteningthe slide rod supports 3? and 38 to the platform i, and they serve additionally to aid indamping any motor -vibration with respect to the turntable. The mounts 8 also dampen building vibrations which would otherwise find their way to the turntable 9. The motor carriage 39 is adapted to move along the slide rods'3'! and'BB'Iin response to movement of the indicator 'arm '3 ta,'and includes horizontal support members it "and i! which embrace the rails34 and 35 with sufficient sides of the motor 3|.

clearance for sliding movement. The motor 31 is supported from horizontal support members 40 and by the flange bracket members 52 and 23 secured by screws and 46 respectively. The motor supporting portions of flange brackets 22 and '43 are secured by bolts 4! at the opposite The motor carriage 39 is actuated towards or away from turntable shaft N? by a link 68 and an arm 49 secured to the lower end of shaft 32. Link 48 is pivotally connected at to the motor carriage 39 and by a stud 50a. The opposite end of link E9 is attached to the lower end. The shaft 32 is vertically stabilized by bracket 32a and is fastened on the-lowerside of the platform i. The upper end of shaft 32 is securely fastened to the indicating arm 31a. Therefore, by turning arm 3m, towards the position on the dial marked 33, the motorcarriage will be drawn along the slide rods 3 3 and 35 away from the turntable shaft It, and movement of the speed control arm 3la towards the position marked 18 on the scale 33 will causethe'motor carriage 39 to move towards the turntable shaft ID. The position of the rollers 29 and 30 in relation to the turntable center is shown at B, C and D (Fig. i) for the 33, 45 and 78 R. P. M. speed respectively.

Since the lever 49 is supported by the platform i, provision is made to prevent building vibrations from being transferred to the motor carriage 39 or motor vibrations to the platform i. To this end the connection between the link 48 and the free end of lever 49 includes a bushin 532) (Fig. 6) composed of damping material such as rubber. The bushing 50?: extends through the link 48 and the screw extends through the bushing 5%.

Inorder to-cause rotation of the disc'2t, the friction drive rollerEU is urged toward idler roller 29 in a manner hereinafter explained to tightly press disc 20 therebetween, and, therefore, transmitting any rotational movement of the frictional drive roller 39 to disc 20 causing it to rotate and in turn, the turntable 9. The idler and friction drive rollers 29 and 30 respectively, are rubberfaced in order to provide superior frictional con tact between the disc 28 and themselves.

At the side of the carriage-$9 toward the shaft [0 isa downwardly extending bracket El (Figs. 2 and 9) adjustably fastened by a screw 5m to the carriage 39, on which idler roller 25 is mounted by a'shoulder screw ill). The drive roller '30 is driven from the motor 3! in a manner which will now be explained. The motor shaft 52, shown in Figs. 5 and "7 has a small wheel 53 secured to it. This wheel 53 frictionally'engages large rubber faced drive wheel 55 on shaft 55, see Figs. 10 and 12 also. The wheel .55 is secured to drive shaft 56 by means of set screw 57 as shown in Fig. 12. The drive shaft 56 rotates in-bearings 58 and 59 on drive shaft bearing plate 85. The opposite corners of thetrapezium plate 58 from drive shaft bearings 58 and 59 contain plate support shaft anchorages GI and 52. Shaft 63 is securely anchored at El while shaft 64 is anchored at 62. Plate support shaft 63 passes through block 55 and contains at its outermost portion a stop member 66. Between the stop 56 and block E5 is compression coil spring 6?. Block 65 is rotatively supported on shaft 68 which is anchored in portion 69 of the carriage 39. The other end of shaft 68 contains stop 70 and the compression coil sprin I! between itand' block 65. This combination produces in eifect'a pivotal mounting for this side 0f (drive: shaft hearing plate 60 asthe plate may slightly rotate about shaft 83 as well as about shaft 69. This pivotal movement is present so that the'drive shaft bearing plate 69 may effectively accommodate or adjust itself to the friction drive disc 29 without causing strain to any part of the mechanism. This avoids the necessity for precision accuracy in the manufacture of these parts. The opposite end of drive shaft bearing plate 69 contains shaft 64, anchored at one end in block 62 of the plate and projecting for vertical movement through slot I2 of member 13, which is part of frame 39. I 'By moving the shaft 64 upwardly in slot I2, drive shaft bearing plate 99 is pivoted about shaft 68 and drive roller 39 is brought into clamping contact by virtue of idler roller 29 with friction drive disc 29, consequently transmitting any rotational movement of the driving roller 39 onto the disc 29. The apparatus employed to cause the drive roller 39 to engage or be disengaged from the friction drive disc 29 is now to be explained.

On the top of the turntable platform I switch handle 76 (Figs. 1 and 3) is fixed on roller actuator shaft 11. When this handle is in the on position the motor 3| has been energized and the drive roller 39 actuated into friction disc engaging position, thereby effecting transmission of power from the motor to the disc. In the off position the motor circuit is open and drive roller 39 has been disengaged from the friction drive disc 29. Drive roller actuator shaft 11 projects through the platform I and its bearing bracket Ila (Fig. and has fixed on its lower end drive roller actuator cam I8. This cam includes a low portion I9, a sloping intermediate portion 99 and a high portion 8I As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the camming action is transmitted by means of cam engaging roller 82 to roller rod 83, which rod moves vertically in guide bracket 85 fastened to the underside of platform I. At the lower end of guide 85 a conventional snap switch v69 is fastened. This switch is connected in the motor circuit. An actuating plunger 88 of the switch 86 is adapted to be engaged by a lip 8111 on a switch plunger actuating member 81 fastened to the lower end of rod 83. While the switch member 16 is being actuated to the on position the lip I8'A drops away from the switch actuating plunger 88 to close the switch, thus completin the circuit to the motor 3I. The circuit to the motor is conventional and it is not believed necessary to the understanding of the invention to describe it in detail.

At the lower end of the rod 83 is fastened an elongated L-shaped roller lift bar 89 (Figs. 3, 5, 10 and 12), the foot 99 of which is adapted to engage a roller 9| carried by one end of a lever 92. This lever is pivotally mounted at 93 to portion I3 of the carriage 39. The opposite end of roller lever 92 is cut away as at 94 to accommodate shaft 64. Therefore, it is seen that when member 92 is rocked about its pivot 93, shaft 64 in engagement with end 94 of this member moves upwardly or downwardly as the case may be in the slot 12. This action either affects the engagement or disengagement of the drive roller 39 with the friction drive disc 29.

While the disc 29 is being rotated by the roller 39 the roller 9I is forced outof engagement with the foot 99 of the roller lift bar 89 as in Figs. 3 and 5, so as to prevent transmission of vibrations and to insure pressure contact of the roller 39 with the disc 29. This pressure contact of roller 39 is caused by a compression spring 95 which acts between portion 96 of the carriage 39 and roller lever 92. When, however. the rod 83 is drawn upwardly through cam action caused by rotation of switch member 16, the foot 99 engages the roller 9| to actuate lever 92 counterclockwise as in Fig. '7 against the compression of compression spring allowing shaft 64 to drop to the lower portion of slot I2 to disengage the drive roller 39 from the friction drive disc 29. The elongated L-shaped foot 99 of roller lift bar 89 is necessary so that the roller 9| will engage under action of spring 95 this foot regardless of the position of the carriage 39 lengthwise of the slide rods 34 and 35. That is, there is sufficient surface on this foot 99 to engage the roller 9I whether the carriage is at the fast or 78 R. P. M. position, or the slow or 33 /3 R. P. M. position. Consequently, it is obvious that the phonograph turntable may be set to multiple speeds and the speed may be changed while the turntable is rotated. This action is accomplished merely by changing the position of the speed control arm 3 Ia along the dial 33. The transmission of power to the turntable through the friction rollers 29 and 39 as well as the slight flexibility of the disc 29 provide for a vibrationless drive to the turntable.

On the upper side of this turntable I'is placed a rubber mat 91 to cover the relatively rough surface of the turntable 9 in orderto protect the records from any scratches that would be caused by firm contact between the records underside and the turntable.

A second record stud 99 and a holding stud 99, therefore, are provided, so that a record I99 with the large center hole such as the standard 45 R. P. M. may be reproduced on this phonograph.

This is accomplished by placing the stud 99 over the normal stud I 9c as shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

The scale 33 is secured to the platform I by screws I9I and partially covered by a cover plate II5. Between the scale plate 33 and the cover plate II5 are three speed index looks or leaves I92, I93 and I94 each pivotally surround: ing shaft 32 at one end, and each containing a hole I94, I96 at its other uncovered end. The holes are adapted to be engaged by spring biased plunger I 91 of lever 3 la to lock the speed control mechanism in place at either of the three conventional speeds. By engaging plunger I91 in any one of leaves I92, I93 and I94 and adjusting the speed of the turntable by means of lever 3Ia (checking the speed stroboscopically) accurate positioning of each leaf may be accomplished. After the positions of all three leaves have been accurately determined the scale cover plate is tightly clamped down, locking the leaves in their relative positions. In this manner the turntable speed can be changed rapidly and accurately, the operator at all times confident that accurate turntable speeds are being produced.

The index leaves I92, I93 and I94 are thin and are arranged on top of each other at their ends which embrace the shaft 32. The plate H5 is arranged immediately above the index leaves I92, I93 and I94. This plate II5 also embraces the shaft 32 and may be drawn down tightly against the leaves I92, I93 and I94 to clamp them in their adjusted positions. To effect the clamping of the plate H5 screws II6 are provided. These screws extend downwardly through the platform I which is composed of fibrous material and are threaded into a plate I I! located under the platform (Figs. 1 and 3). When an adjustment is to be made of any one of the leaves I92, I93 or I94 it is merely necessary to loosen those screws II6 nearest to the leaf to be adjusted. The indicator arm 3Ia may then be shifted to the leaf to be adjusted in order to eifect the desired adjustment subsequent to adjusting the previously loosened screws Hi5 which may be tightened to maintain the adjustment.

Each of the leaves I02, I93 and I04 is provided at its free end with two cams I I8 (Figs. 1 and 3) at opposite sides of its hole IM to cam the lower end of the plunger I01 upwardly as it approaches the hole I04. When the plunger reaches the hole I04 it snaps down into it thus locking the index lever 3Ia.

We have described what we believe to be the best embodiments of our invention. We do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what we desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a variable speed phonograph apparatus, a turntable, a ball-bearingly supported turntable shaft, a friction disc secured to said turntable shaft, a pair of parallel rails in a plane parallel to said turntable and on each side of said turntable shaft, a carriage mounted for sliding movement on said rails, a constant speed motor on said carriage, a pair of friction rollers adapted for engagement with said friction disc on each side thereof, one of said rollers frictionally engaged with the motor armature shaft and adapted for movement relative to said friction disc, and crank means for moving said motor carriage towards or away from said turntable shaft.

2. In a variable speed turntable, a turntable shaft, a friction disc on said turntable shaft, a pair of rails substantially parallel to said turntable, a carriage mounted on said rails, said carriage including an idler roller, a motor including a rotor, a pivotal plate including a lower drive roller, said lower drive roller frictionally engaged with the motor rotor, crank means for moving said carriage along said rails, and linkage adapted to cause said lower drive roller to engage said disc.

' 3. In a variable speed turntable, a platform, a turntable, a turntable shaft extending through said platform, a disc on said shaft parallel to said turntable, carriage supporting means extending between said turntable and disc, at carriage in said carriage supporting means, said carriage including a motor with an armature shaft, adrive roller driven by said armature shaft and engageable with said disc, a speed control lever extending through said platform, linkage between said carriage and shaft, an actuation lever on a second shaft extending through said platform, a cam on the lower end of said second shaft, a vertically movable bracket engaged by said cam, an L-shaped member on the lower end of said bracket, a drive roller supporting plate pivotally mounted at one end and vertically slidably mounted at the other to said carriage, a lever pivotally mounted on said carriage engaged on one side by said supporting plate and on the other by said L-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,182 Gray Apr. 11, 1893 712,659 Donnatin et al Nov. 4, 1902 745,593 Gibson Dec. 1, 1903 1,271,590 Lefever July 9, 1918 1,303,350 Manley May 13, 1919 1,329,519 Ahearn Nov. 4, 1919 1,406,864 Holliman et a1 Feb. 14, 1922 1,421,541 White July 4, 1922 1,700,981 Hayes Feb. 5, 1929 1,811,465 Geloso June 23, 1931 2,262,731 Gruber et al Nov. 11, 1941 2,316,857 Green Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 621,617 France Feb. 7, 1927 180,942 Great Britain June 8, 1922 

